Holidaymaker's passport warning as Ryanair refuse flight over easy to miss mistake

A Ryanair passenger from Birmingham, Rachael Norton-Voysey, was refused boarding after discovering a damaged passport on the gate. Norton-Voysey, 33, said a 1.5 cm rip in her passport led staff to stop her from traveling from Birmingham Airport to Lanzarote on June 4, even though the tear did not affect any personal details or the photograph. She told reporters she and her friend were escorted out after boarding finished, watching other passengers depart. UK government guidance states that passports with rips or tears are considered “damaged” and must be replaced, and may not be accepted by airlines or border control. A Ryanair spokesperson said the passenger was correctly refused because the passport was damaged and therefore not valid for travel.